Cardinals Travel to Marshall for Final Nonconference Game of the Season

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Fresh off of an ACC series sweep against Georgia Tech, the University of Louisville softball team will take its final break from conference play when the Cards travel to Marshall for a midweek matchup Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Dot Hicks Field.

Game DAy INFORMATION
Opponent: Marshall
Series History: Louisville leads 5-2
Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Location: Huntington, W. Va. | Dot Hicks Field
Television: CUSA TV
Live scoring: GoCards.com
Twitter Updates: @UofLSoftball

CARDINAL QUICK HITS
• Louisville enters the game with a 31-15 overall record and on a five-game win streak.
• UofL is receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball and the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll released on April 16.
• Louisville recently jumped four spots to No. 29 in the NCAA RPI standings released on April 22.
• This past weekend, the Cardinals notched their first ACC sweep of the season with three wins against Georgia Tech. UofL improves to 11-7 in league play.
The Cards are third in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State (13-5) and Notre Dame (10-6).
• The Cardinals have now won five straight and seven of their last eight.
• Louisville has produced at least seven runs in the last five games and seven of its last eight.
• With the win in the opening game of the Georgia Tech series, head coach Holly Aprile collected her 300th career victory.
• The Cardinals' 7-2 win in game two marked their 30th victory of the season, extending the program's streak to 16 straight seasons with 30 or more wins.
• Louisville has a 15-3 record at Ulmer Stadium in 2019.
• As a team, Louisville has registered a program-record 87 stolen bases with 101 attempts on the season. The previous record was 68 (95 attempts), set in the 2010 season
• Louisville led at the plate redshirt senior Sidney Melton who is batting .349 with a team - and career - best 24 stolen bases.
• Junior Celene Funke leads the team with 43 runs. The centerfielder recently tied a school record with four runs in the 8-7 win against No. 24/23 Kentucky, she also belted out her 10th triple of the season. She leads the nation in that category and tied Louisville's single season record.
• As a team, Louisville has registered a program-record 87 stolen bases on the season. The previous record was 68, set in the 2010 season.
• In the circle, redshirt freshman Taylor Roby leads team with a 12-1 record and a 2.31 ERA. Hensley (9-3) stands second with a 2.93 ERA while sophomore Danielle Watson (10-11) holds a 3.58 ERA with a team-high 138 strikeouts in 125.0 innings.
• Hensley and senior Sidney Melton were selected to the 2019 Preseason All-ACC Team.
• The 2019 campaign marks Louisville's 20th season as a program and first under new head coach Holly Aprile's tutelage.
• The Cardinals were picked to finish third in the Atlantic Division and fifth overall as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.

The Aprile Era
2019 marks the first season under new head coach Holly Aprile following the retirement of Sandy Pearsall, who began the program in 2000. Aprile is the second head coach in Louisville softball history.
• Prior to her arrival at Louisville, Aprile, 2018 ACC Coach of the Year spent 10 seasons (2009-18) as Pittsburgh's head coach and five years (2004-08) as an assistant. In 2018, she earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Panthers to the 2018 ACC Coastal Division title and a runner-up finish in the conference tournament.

Player quick hits

• Redshirt senior Sidney Melton is climbing Louisville's single season and career lists in runs and stolen bases. She has career highs in stolen bases (25), doubles (8), triples (4) and RBIs (30).
      • Melton set a school record with four stolen bases against Morehead State (March 12).
• Senior Megan Hensley stands among team leaders in home runs (9) and RBIs (36) as well as shutouts, while standing second in ERA (2.93) and strikeouts (80). She ranked in the top 10 on UofL career record lists several pitching and hitting categories.
• Junior Celene Funke is having a career-best season with 43 runs, six doubles, 10 triples, three home runs, 23 stolen bases and 22 RBIs. She leads the team with 16 multi-hit games and seven multi-steal games.
• Junior Caitlin Ferguson has a career-high 32 runs and tied a career high in home runs (4).
• Sophomore Kyra Snyder put together a team best 13-game on-base streak (March 16-April 6) - and is currently riding a seven-game streak of reaching safely.
• Sophomore Maddy Newman has established career highs in runs (25), and RBIs (12).
• Sophomore Jordyn Wolfe has career highs in runs (19) and stolen bases (7).
• Sophomore Danielle Watson connected on her first career double, home run this season. She has also dealt a career-high 138 strikeouts.
• Freshman Charley Butler put together a team-best 11-game hitting streak (March 30 - April 21). The left fielder has made some outstanding defensive plays and was recently among ESPN SportCenter's Top 10 Plays (No. 8) after a diving catch in foul territory for an out in the 10-9 win over No. 3/3 Florida State (April 8).
      • Her first career hit was a home run (vs. Bradley, Feb. 24).
•Freshman Rebecca Chung has been one of Louisville's top hitters throughout the season. She leads the team with 11 multi-RBI games. Her three-run double in the seventh lifted the Cards to a 10-9 win over No. 3/3 Florida State (April 8). She also threw out a school-record four base stealers in that game.
      • She earned ACC Co-Player of the Week honors on April 9.
      • Chung put together 10-game hitting streak (March 8-23).
      • Chung's two-run double in the fifth put the Cards ahead for good in the 11-10 win over Georgia Tech to ensure the series sweep (April 21).
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby leads the team in wins and stands third in batting average. She got the win in the circle and registered the game-winning hit against No. 24/23 Kentucky (April 17).

Cards against the field

Marshall
Series Record: Louisville leads 5-2
Last Meeting: May 2, 2018 - UL won 13-10 at Ulmer Stadium.
RECAP: Megan Hensley's two-out grand slam in the bottom of the fifth erased a three-run deficit and helped her cause in the circle as the Cardinals defeated Marshall 13-10 in their home finale at Ulmer Stadium.
Scouting the Thundering Herd: Marshall brings a 28-16 overall record into Tuesday's contest after taking two of three games against Conference USA foe Louisiana Tech over the weekend.
• Aly Harrell leads the team with a .319 batting average, 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.
• Abigail Tolbert (17-12) carries a 3.12 ERA with 121 strikeouts in 166.0 innings.

Up Next
The Cardinals return home to play host to North Carolina in the final home series of the season. Prior to Saturday's 1 p.m. contest, Louisville will honor seniors Blaire Bass, Madison Cousineau, Darrianne Hale, Megan Hensley and Sidney Melton in their final home weekend.

Up last

Louisville sweeps Georgia Tech series
The University of Louisville softball team completed an ACC series sweep of Georgia Tech with a 7-2 win in game one of a doubleheader and took the second game 11-10 in six innings in game shortened due to the Yellow Jackets travel schedule. Prior to the doubleheader, the Cardinals picked up an 11-7 win in the completion of the series opener which was suspended in the fifth inning on Friday.
• Redshirt senior Sidney Melton led the Cards at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs while junior Caitlin Ferguson drove in three. Sophomore Danielle Watson (9-11) picked up the win, allowing three earned runs on three hits and striking out seven.
Louisville 11 – Georgia Tech 7
UofL beat Georgia Tech 11-7 to complete the series opener Sunday on Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium. The contest was suspended due to rain Friday afternoon with the Cardinals leading 10-5 in the fifth. The win also marked head coach Holly Aprile's 300th career victory.
Louisville 7- Georgia Tech 2
Redshirt senior Sidney Melton went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base and freshman Charley Butler drove in a pair of runs to back sophomore RHP Danielle Watson who tied a career high with 11 strikeouts as the Cardinals clinched the series.
Louisville 11 – Georgia Tech 10
In the second half of Sunday's doubleheader, the Cardinals overcame deficits of 5-0 and 10-6 to prevail 11-10 in a game that was called at 4:25 p.m. due to travel constraints.
• In a game which featured three lead changes and a tie and 21 combined runs, the Cards collected 15 hits with nine of them falling in for extra bases including three home runs and six doubles.
• Louisville used a late-inning rally to take the lead for good, entering the bottom of the fifth trailing 10-8 with 15 minutes remaining before the game was called, Hensley delivered a two-out single and scored on Roby's double to pull the Cards within a run. A wild pitch second Roby to third and Ferguson walked to put runners on the corners for Chung's two-run double which made the score 11-10.
• In the game, Roby went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run, four RBIs, freshman Rebecca Chung went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and two runs. Senior Megan Hensley went 2-for-3 with a home run and scored three runs.
• Roby picked up the win, allowing six earned runs on five hits and striking out two in 3.1 innings. Hensley gave up four earned runs on one hit and struck out four in 1.2 innings.

Georgia Tech Series Notes:
• The Cardinals have now won five straight and seven of their last eight.
• Louisville has produced at least seven runs in the last five games and seven of its last eight.
• UofL won its third straight ACC series
• With the win in the opening game, head coach Holly Aprile collected her 300th career victory.
• The Cardinals' 7-2 win in game two marked their 30th victory of the season, extending the program's streak to 16 straight seasons with 30 or more wins.
• Louisville has a 15-3 record at Ulmer Stadium in 2019.
• As a team, Louisville has registered a program-record 87 stolen bases with 101 attempts on the season. The previous record was 68 (95 attempts), set in the 2010 season
Player Notes
• Freshman Charley Butler has reached safely in the last 12 games.
• Redshirt senior Sidney Melton has reached safely in the last 10 games.
• Junior Celene Funke is on a six-game hitting streak.
• Funke leads the team with 43 runs and stands second with 23 stolen bases.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby tallied career highs in hits and RBIs in the 11-10 series finale.

Cards reach 30-win mark for 16th straight season

On April 21, the Cardinals defeated Georgia Tech 7-2 to clinch the ACC series and reach their 30th win of the season.
• Louisville has now posted 30 or more victories in 16 straight seasons (dating back to 2004). The Cards have posted at least 30 wins 18 times in the 19-year history of the program with a record-setting 55 victories in 2012.

UofL dedicates Don Dobina Field

The University of Louisville softball team named its field Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium to honor the legacy of local softball coach, donor and UofL alum Don Dobina. The ceremony took place just prior to the game against Kentucky on April 17.
• Dobina, who passed away in 2016, was an avid supporter of the University of Louisville softball program and an advocate of the sport throughout the commonwealth of Kentucky for nearly 30 years.

Cardiac Cards

In the past two weeks, the Cardinals have had a few dramatic home games.
•On April 17, Taylor Roby's walk-off single in the seventh lifted the Cards to a 8-7 win after No. 24/23 Kentucky plated two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. The win snapped a three-game skid against the Wildcats.
•On April 8, the Cards used a walk-off double by freshman Rebecca Chung to upend No. 3/3 Florida State, handing the Seminoles their first ACC series loss since 2012.
• On April 21, Louisville overcame deficits of 5-0 and 10-6 to complete a series sweep of Georgia Tech while under time constraints due to the Yellow Jackets' travel.
• In a game which featured three lead changes and a tie and 21 combined runs, Louisville used a late-inning rally to take the lead for good, entering the bottom of the fifth trailing 10-8 with 15 minutes remaining before the game was called, Hensley delivered a two-out single and scored on Roby's double to cut the lead to one. A wild pitch second Roby to third and Ferguson walked to put runners on the corners for Chung's two-run double which made the score 11-10. The game was called due to a drop-dead time in the top of the sixth inning.

Funke, triple force

Junior Celene Funke is leads the NCAA with 10 triples on the season. She stands tied for first with Audrey Rendon (2005) on Louisville's single season list.
• The centerfielder has 12 triples in her career and is fourth on Louisville's all-time list. She needs one more to move into a tie for third with Courtney Moore (2004-07).
• She also has three home runs on the season.

Cards swiping records

• As a team, Louisville has registered a program-record 87 stolen bases with 101 attempts on the season. The previous record was 68, set in the 2010 season.

Melton and Funke in a foot race

• Sidney Melton leads the team with a career-high 24 and stands on Louisville's single-season list, needing three more to tie Audrey Rendon (2008) for second.
• She now has 57 stolen bases in her career, placing her third on Louisville's all-time list and needs four more to move into a tie for second with Jennifer Esteban (2010-12).
• Celene Funke is on Melton's heels with 23 stolen bases and fourth among the Cardinals' single-season leaders.
• Funke recently pushed her career stolen base total to 43, good for seven on Louisville's all-time list. She needs three more to move into a three-way tie for fifth with Candi Hicks (2004-07), and Kristin Austin (2009-12).

Hitting for average

Louisville's starting lineup features five players who are batting over .300 on the season. Redshirt senior Sidney Melton leads the charge at .349 while junior Celene Funke is right behind her at a .337 clip. Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby (.330), freshman Rebecca Chung (.324) and senior Megan Hensley (.321) round out the top hitters.

Balanced pitching

All three of Louisville's starting pitchers have evenly contributed to the team's success in the circle.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby (12-1) leads the team in wins and ERA (2.31).
• Senior Megan Hensley has collected a team-high four shutouts and stands second with a 2.93 ERA.
• Sophomore Danielle Watson (10-11) is holding opponents to a .214 average. She leads the Cardinals with 138 strikeouts in 125.0 innings.

Chung's cannon

Freshman Rebecca Chung has had a stellar rookie season offensively, but she has also made her presence known behind the plate. The catcher recently set a school record when she threw out a career-high four would-be base stealers in Louisville's 10-9 win against No. 3/3 Florida State on April 8.
• She also drove in the game-winning run against the Wildcats with a walk-off three-run doubles with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Hensley, dual threat

For the fourth straight season, Megan Hensley stands among the Cardinals' leaders both in the circle and at the plate. The senior leads the pitching staff with four shutouts and stands second in ERA (2.93), strikeouts (80) and innings pitched (86.0).
• She also leads the Cards with nine home runs and 36 RBIs.
• Hensley is ranked among UofL's top 10 in several pitching and hitting categories.

Hensley record watch

Megan Hensley has entered Louisville's top career list in several categories.
• Tied for first for grand slams with four, along with Lacy Wood (2003-06).
• Fifth with nine career saves and needs one more to tie for fourth with Tori Collins (2009-12).
• Tied for fourth in career RBI (165) with Alicja Wolny (2010-13). She needs one more to ti Katie Keller (2011-14) for third.
• Fourth in career home runs (34) and needs two more to tie Melissa Roth (2007-10) for third.
• Seventh in career appearances (117). Tori Collins (2009-12) stands sixth at 142.
• Seventh in career games started in the circle (83). Carlisa Connell (2011-14) is sixth with 98.
• Seventh in career innings pitched (522.0). Caralisa Connell is sixth with 608.0.
• Seventh in career wins (50). Jessica Rak (2000-03) stands in sixth place with 65 victories.
• Eighth in career strikeouts (361), Aja Sherman (2002-05) is seventh with 463.
• Tied for eighth in career complete games (32). Needs nine more to move into a tie for seventh with Aja Sherman (2002-05).
• Tied for tenth in career complete shutouts (10). Needs three more to move into a tie for seventh with Caralisa Connell (2011-14).

Young Cards

While the Cardinals have solid veteran leadership in the lineup some underclassmen are having an immediate impact early in their careers with as many as five in the starting lineup at times.
• Redshirt freshman Taylor Roby leads the team with a 2.31 ERA and stands third on the squad with a .330 batting average.
• Freshman catcher Rebecca Chung is second on the team with 31 RBIs and fourth with a .324 battiing average. She recently set a school record for runners caught stealing in a game with four in the 10-9 win against then-No. 3/3 Florida State (April 8) and was named ACC Softball Co-Player of the Week on March 17.
• Freshman Charley Butler has started 42 games in left field and has two home runs. She has made some outstanding defensively plays and was recently among ESPN SportCenter's Top 10 Plays (No. 8) after a diving catch in foul territory for an out in the 10-9 win over No. 3/3 Florida State (4/8).
• Freshman Cassady Greenwood has played in 27 games with four starts and has collected eight RBIs.
• Sophomores Maddy Newman and Kyra Snyder have started every game at second base and first base respectively.
• Fellow sophomore Riley Schindler has started 28 games in the outfield.
• Sophomore Danielle Watson leads the team in the circle with 138 strikeouts in 125.0 innings and a .214 opposing batting average. She was named ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week on April 9 after tossing a complete-game shutout in Louisville's 2-0 win over No. 3/3 Florida State (4/6).

Melton sets single game stolen base record

Sidney Melton set a school record with four stolen bases in the 8-0 win over Morehead State on March 12.

Melton's scoring run

Melton recently improved her career run tally to 145 and stands fifth on Louisville's all-time list. She needs 13 more to tie Audrey Rendon (2004-07) for fourth.
• Last year, the speedy infielder led the team with 45 runs and moved into a five-way tie for ninth place among the all-time single season leaders.

Home Sweet Home

Louisville has compiled a 15-3 record at Ulmer Stadium this season with three wins over ranked opponents (No. 3/3 Florida State twice and No. 24/23 Kentucky).
• The Cards went 4-0 in their home-opening Cardinal Classic and followed with a doubleheader sweep of Morehead State. UofL continued it perfect home record by taking the first two games of the ACC series against Syracuse but fell 4-2 in eight innings to the Orange. The Cards resumed their winning ways with a 5-2 victory over Indiana. Louisville suffered another extra-inning setback when Lipscomb prevailed 5-4 in eight. Louisville's fourth loss came at the hands of No. 3/3 Florida State on April 6.

Melton earns ACC postgraduate scholarship
Sidney Melton was among 52 recipients of the 2019 Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship Award announced on Thursday by the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• The Weaver-James-Corrigan and Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $6,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.

Louisville celebrates 20th Season

The 2019 campaign marks the University of Louisville softball program's 20th season. Leading up to this season, UofL has compiled a 718-371 (.659) record with six conference championships, 13 NCAA regional appearances and four regional finals.

Cardinals Travel to Marshall for Final Nonconference Game of the Season

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Blaire Bass

Charley Butler

Rebecca Chung

Madison Cousineau

Caitlin Ferguson

Celene Funke

Cassady Greenwood

Darrianne Hale

Megan Hensley

Sidney Melton

Maddy Newman

Taylor Roby

Riley Schindler

Kyra Snyder

Danielle Watson

Jordyn Wolfe

University of Louisville Athletics

Cardinals Travel to Marshall for Final Nonconference Game of the Season

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Blaire Bass

Charley Butler

Rebecca Chung

Madison Cousineau

Caitlin Ferguson

Celene Funke

Cassady Greenwood

Darrianne Hale

Megan Hensley

Sidney Melton

Maddy Newman

Taylor Roby

Riley Schindler

Kyra Snyder

Danielle Watson

Jordyn Wolfe

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